Well capping device



AWE 30, was. R, KOCH' 1,999,699

WEL CAPPING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Robert Koch April 30, 1935. R K H 1,999,699

WELL CAPPING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invent or Robert Koch Atty Patented. Apr. 30, 1935 UNlT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL GAPPING DEVICE Robert Koch, East st. Louis, 1m. Application November 22, 1933, Serial No. 699,110 6 claims; (Cl. 251-59) My invention relates to a well-capping device and particularly to a device adapted to be applied to the upper end of an oil well casing to provide means for closing the outlet either during a the boring operation in case a gusher is pro- 'duced, or at any time during or after boring in case of fire.

One object of my invention is to provide a capping device having a relief discharge opening and difierential valve operating mechanism, whereby the relief discharge is partially opened before the main valve starts to close, thus minimizing the pressure on the main capping valve.

Another object of my invention is to provide a light, simple, andeffective valve mechanism for the main discharge passage and one which will be equally effective when a drill rod or other tool is in the well and when such tool is absent.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of well capping device made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view, the cover plate being removed; Figure 2 is a vertical section; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but having the parts in a different position; Figure 4 is an'enlarged bottom plan view of one of the slide valve plates, partly in section; Figure 5 is a front elevation showing the difierential valve operating mechanism; Figure 6 is a bottom plan view oi the cover plate; and Figure '7 is a side view of one of the slide valve plates.

The device is adapted to be secured to the upper end of an oil well casing by means of a union i -(Figure 2) which may be of the bayonet joint type, as shown, or any other form of connector. The device comprises a hollow stem 2, forming a continuation of the well casing, and a cylindrical head 3. Secured to the head 3 by means of bolts i, is the cover plate ti carrying the main discharge pipe 6 which is in alignment with the stem 2.-

Formed in the bottom of the head is an annular groove in which is seated a ring i. This ring carries six valve actuating pins 8 and is provided with an arcuate rack 9. Engaging with the rack 9 is a bevel pinion it, the shaft ll of which extends through the wall of the head and is prohave their inner ends resting on the plates i5 and their outer ends raised from the bottom of the head lay-spacing blocks i8 equal in thickness to the plates i5 and either formed integral with or secured to the said plates 16. The top plates ill have their inner ends resting on the plates l6 and their outer ends raised from the bottom of the head by spacing blocks l9 similar to blocks this figure to the closed position shown in Figure 3. When the plates are in their closed position, spaces will be left between plates i5 and ll through which oil might leak unless these spaces are filled. I accomplish the filling of these spaces by means of auxiliary valve plates 2i slidingly mounted on the plates it. These auxiliary plates are of a thickness equal to the plates l6 and have their inner ends cut at the proper angle to seat against the edges of said plates it. Coil springs 22 surrounding rods 23 hold the auxiliary plate against the edges of the plates it when the valve is in closed position. In order to retract the auxiliary plate when the valve is in open position, each of said plates'is provided with a slot 26 en'- gaged by a pin 25 in the corresponding plate 65.

Guide ways for the plates of the slide valve ,are provided by triangular guide blocks 26, either formed integral with or secured to the cover plate 5. These blocks are of sufficient depth to extend to'the bottom of the, head and, so engage the edges of all theivalve plates. blocks 26 is provided with a recess 2i for the reception of the bevel pinion Hi. The cover plate bears against the upper face of the plates ll but the plates it and the auxiliary plates H are spaced from thecover. Therefore, to support these latter named plates the cover is provided with spacing blocks 28 of a thickness equal to the plates ll.

To allow-the valve plates to be closed when a drill rod 29 or other tool is in the well casing, each valve plate is provided with a curved recess 383, which recess is closed by packing ti of'asbestos or other non-combustible material. This packing is held at the ends by any suitable means, such as the dovetails 32 (Figure 4), and is normally held in position to fill the recess 30 by means of a plate 33 held in place by the tension of aspring 34. When, however, a tool is in the casing when the valve is closed-the spring will One of the 3 permit the packing to move back so that the recesses may enclose the rod.

Leading from the stem 2 is a relief passage in which is a valve 36. This valve may be of the plug type, as shown, or of any other desired form. It is operated by an arm 31 to the end of which is attached .a, flexible cable 38' which may lead to any selected distant point for remote control of the device. The cable 38 is connected to one end of the rack l3 by a short flexible cable 39 which, when the main valve is open and the auxiliary valve closed, as shown in Figure l, hangs in a loop as shown in Figure 5. When the cable 38 is pulled, the first action will be to start opening the relief valve 36 and the main valve will not start to close until all the slack of the cable 39 is taken up, which should occur when the relief valve is about half open. During the remainder of the movement of the cable 38 the relief valve will be completely opened and the main valve closed. In this way I secure a differential operation of the valves, insuring relief of excessive pressure under the main valve.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a well capping device, the combination with a, head, of a plurality of pairs of opposing sliding plates, said pairs of plates lying in different parallel planes and forming an interlocking valve, spacing blocks on the faces of some and spacing blocks bearing on some of them, and

means for actuating said valve plates.

means for actuating the valve plates.

4. In a well capping device, the combination with a head, of a ring in said head provided with an arcuate rack and a plurality of operating pins, a plurality of pairs of opposing sliding plates having cam slots engaging said pins, said plates lying in different parallel planes and forming an interlocking valve, and a'gear engaging with said rack to actuate the valve.

5. In a well capping device, the combination with a head, of a ring in said head provided with an arcuate rack and a, plurality of operatin Pins, a plurality of pairs of opposing sliding plates having cam slots engaging said pins, said plates lying in different parallel planes and forming an interlocking valve, a cover plate having guide blocks forming ways for said plates, one of said guide blocks being provided with a recess, and a gear positioned in said recess and engaging said rack to actuate the valve.

6. In a well capping device, the combination with a head, of a ring in said head provided with an arcuate rack and a plurality of operating pins, a plurality of pairs of opposing sliding plates having cam slots engaging saidpins, said plates lying in different parallel planes and" forming an interlocking valve, auxiliary sliding plates carried upon one pair of said first named blocks bearing upon one pair of the main plates and the auxiliary plates, 9, gear engaging with the rack to actuate the valve.

ROBERT KOCH. 

